What Causes Stage Fright and Fear of Public Speaking?

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Stage fright and fear of speaking in public are triggered by two things – expectation of perfection and fear of judgment.  We are expecting ourselves to be perfect (and we know we can’t be) so we think we are not good because we aren’t perfect.  We are also afraid that otfers will judge us harshly as not good enough.  Either way there is an element of not good enough involved in stage fright and fear of public speaking.  

In reality, fear of speaking in front of others is simply high intensity emotion or passion-energy that is trying to flow through the body when we become the center of attention.  It is not a sign that you are a bad speaker or presenter.  Rather it is a sign that you have a ton of creative emotional energy you just don’t know how to express yet.   When you can get the blocked energy to flow through your body and out towards others, then you can transform the tension and anxiety into a presence that is palpable and into passionate expression.  

In my next post, I will explain what happens inside your body when you are gripped in stage fright or fear of speaking. You may find it helpful to understand the inner dynamics of this issue.  Once you understand what is happening inside, you can start to release the physical sensations and unlock the emotional energy, allowing yourself to melt into a flow state that both feels good and compels others to pay attention.

 

9 Comments

  1. Dear Sandra,
    your conclusion about stage fright is absolutly right.The fear is happening only while we are getting into the thought of centre of attension.

  2. I received this link from “Ter Scott”
    April 21, 2010

    Dear Sandra
    I enjoyed your article on “What Causes Stage Fright and Fear of Public Speaking” and the point you made in stating one of the reasons, “passion energy” flowing through your body, was interesting. This made a lot of sense!
    Thank You!

  3. Im in the eighth grade and doing a research paper on stage fright because i sometimes have it, but you are right about it.

  5. Ive had this issue for years. Its strange though as certain things seem to trigger it. Give me a bunch of unemployed on a Monday morning starting a training programme – fine. I do the induction no probs. Ask me to repeat this to members of staff or people I know and down my body goes 🙂 Why? I also found meetings difficult. Felt on edge, body starts to lock up, beating heart etc wondered why. Even when the meeting was a light affair I found the silence as one person spoke worrying. At the same time another part of my mind is asking, “why do I feel like this?” Now take the two examples above and let me menton times when this worry never came – I felt fine. It puzzled me and I began looking at what made me this or that. Seemed it came from my childhood when a new teacher told me to go to the headmaster. He caught me with my mates trying to climb a partition in toilets. He singled me out ad let the rest go. I spent a good hour stood outside the headmasters office. Former teachers came and went and looked surprised to see me stood there. I was a good guy at school and always followed the rules and now Im in the spot bad guys stand. It destroyed me inside and reduced my confidence. I lost a feeling of part of the class and this created a new me. Wish I could find that teacher now and kick him up the ass!

  6. When the speaker sees the audience as his superiors that can also be the cause of stage fright

  7. Uba Florence you are so right! In fact, unconsciously thinking that the audience is superior is a big reason for stage fright. Speakers who think that people in their audience are judging them is another. When you think about it, the speaker with stage fright is actually pre-judging his audience. Thanks for your insightful point!

  9. Dear
    Sandra
    My name is Jessica and I am 14 years old and after reading your I thoughts I just want to say thank you because you helped me to understand. A little more about my stage fright 🙂

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